I would make health care have more focus on prevention of chronic disease versus just treatment and make it more affordable and available to all who want and need it.

How does your work impact patients and others in the health care community?

My work as the manager for the Diabetes Center ensures that the quality of service and education we provide to our patients exceeds the expectation of our patients. As a clinician, the work that I do helps patients become empowered to make the changes they need to make to their eating and lifestyle habits to improve their health and quality of life.

Why did you choose medicine for a career?

I had always been fascinated by the effect of food and the nutrients we eat to our health. In college, I saw the effect of malnutrition on the health of people in the community and I knew then that being a nutritionist was what I wanted to do.

What do you do to relax and have fun?

I enjoy dancing and teaching Philippine folk dance; I love to sing, bake and grow orchids as well as spend time with my family and friends.

When was the last time you cried?

The last time I really cried hard was in the fall of last year when a good friend died suddenly at the age of 37. At work, I recently had a patient, an older gentleman, come in who I had not seen for months, and in our conversation he told me some problems he was having and that he had not told his doctor and he was telling them to me because I was the only one he trusted. That brought tears to my eyes, but I had to try my best to hold my tears back and not cry in front of him.

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